The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1887-05-05
ESEOI.
THE LAND OF THE GOLD LEAF.
DR.. Lafferty Tells of His Recent Visit
80 Hendcrson-Pcrsoaal Incl
dents, &c.
[Richmond Christian Advocate. I

[Richmond Christian Advocated
There had been a longing to see again
the grove and grounds of an academy on
the thther side Of the Roanoke, noted in
hygOne times and better days, "PLGHc0
c0nsute" \ third of a century and more
had passed since | was a pupil there. 1t
was in the county Of Warren, Of North Car
DINA, and hard by little hamlet, Ridge
way Iii the early days of tins month
gratified my wish for a pilgrimage to the
spot where the boys plodded along the
''parasaugs" of XenOphOn, and baked at
the bridge of Caesar, with its bothering
abutment Of ''tigh0 bin0 sesQ'laJ7odnLta."
There remained Of the village, as L had
seen it, only a vc>tige-thc: country store.
\ The Academy had been burned,
and the ashes scattered long ago by the
plOWshare. Fortunately a scho0lmate re-
sided near by, Captain Collins, cOurtly
gentleman and brave Confederate. We
slowly wendell our, way through the
grounds, calling up the memories of 1.-The
days that are no more" tingGd with the
mellow hue Of distant years. The war
made havoc among our youthful comrades.
The Master had met sudden death. We
traced the winding path through the woods
to the nlOssy spring under great OAKS. |
bent down and drank of its sweet waters
From rude cup | poured out a libation
to God i'll silent gratitude for all His mcr-
cies.
made lecture in the village at night,
and met many clever people. Agreeable
incidents of the past were revived by the
freSide. had proof Of friendlineSS in the
audience, for a number had come fifteen
and twenty miles to keep the lecturer in
cOuntenance. A visiting brother is not al
lowed to collapse, if polite presence and
good Offices can rally him. There is no
distinction i'll Church relations in this re-
gard, for gentlemen of other persuasions
made that Journey to give aid and comfort
to the Methodist platform. | have found
this universal custom among genteel peo-
pie in North Carolina.
From Ridgeway passed into the new
county OF Vance, and lectured at its shire
tOwn-Henders0n, This is one Of the caDi-
tails OF the Gold Leaf. Oxford, Durham
and henderson have risen to note as mar
ketS of this bright tobacco. The growth of
these cigarette cities is a wonder. Seven
years ago cartridges were hunted where
stately churches and superb residences now
ornament the town. 1t has not been beyond
two or three decades since a cows horn
was blown to call people to worship in
sorry edlticeS. Henderson has the sound
of the hammer and the smell of the paint
brush on every street. 1t is as if Just out
OF bandbOX-the houses are of latest
architectural design and in rich colors.
There are noble church cdifices of brick,
with all the modern emhellishment-all
Dullt within five years. The first portion
OF large structure for school purposes has
been finished, and the Rev. j. NJ. Rhodes,
OF the North Carolina Conference, is con-
Quoting College for Young Ladies with
success. The situation and grounds are
superior. Rhodes is a young man, but
alert. balanced and pure. 4 marked fea-
ture of the town is that young men are con-
Quoting the affairs. The sparkle of the
GOLD LEAF is due the vivid, quick powers
of young editor. Manning is without a
mnstache, but there is magic in his pen
HUGE tobacco hnnSnS a1-nS in, al
lions. My host, Mr.. W. E. Gary, formerly
OF Manchester, buys more than a million
pounds year. | brought away a sample
from his immense house, which sold for one
dollar and twenty cents pound out of the
farmers wagon. Planters get an average
at times of eleven cents hill for a whole
crop. The value of the weed as raised in
that section is in the color. A lemon tint
brings big money" but if from any cause
red or any off" hue is on the plant, it is
worth little more than oak leaves. There
IS art III the culture and curing, | noticed
mat the choice soil had fine white sand
like sediment In the burrows between the
hills washed down by the rains. Such land
III Piedmont Virginia would be rated as
mlSerably poor, but it sells high where
men KNOW the secret of bringing the Indian
plant, half brother of MULLEN, to a buff
shade: But L am not an expert.
My lecture seemed to find favor with the
people assembled in their beautiful hall.
Among the citizens l had the good fortune
to discover kinfolks, and the pleasure of
the hour was enhanced. They made nv
visit delight. The father of mine host
Is the venerable Z. ii. Gary, who read
the Adr0c0t6 fifty-Odd years ago. | need
not say that the Rev. j. ID. Arnold seasoned
my stay with brOthcrly kindness and en-
rlching converse. heard on all hands of
his Observation-Disclosures, graceful and
scholarly in the pulpit, instructive, nour-
lShing and comforting at the tireside. The
empty sleeve is honOred. Courage of con-
Nl2tionS and stainless character command
our homage.
While in the neighborhoOd DR.. Lafferty
went out to Tabernacle" and preached a
sermon there on Sunday. He says:
My companion, philosopher and friend
was the pastor of the Ridgeway charge,
hey John n Cole; | must not return
without sight of Tabernacle" on his
work. and a sermon there \ The
church building has marks of age. The
giants in those days" preached there 1t
was on the thoroughfare to the ancient seat
of Randolph Macon. The line between
the two States is in gun-Shot, The congre-
CATION is drawn equally from Virginia and
North Carolina. l dined in the latter and
slept i'll the former almost on adjoining
plantations. Tabernacle is in the midst of
% people that retain the old manners and
customs. The great estates on the Roanoke
and Nutbush lie on either hand The peo-
pie have all obliging behavior, without os-
tentation. 1t is part of the man, bred in
the bone, indigenous and spontaneous. Re-
ligiOn has the homage of the entire COM
munity. An infdel would be stunned as
branded convict. Instinct teaches them
that atheism is fed by a tap-roOt in a de
cayed heart. The wOrshiperS are divided
among the chief creedS, but are at one in
Church charity. Devout, yet catholic
holding the unity of the Spirit in the
bonds of peace" An "elect lady of the
old State Church is OrganiSt, and Pres
byterian Elder leads the Methodist choir.
The Calyinist and the Churchman are as